I swear to all the atheist gods above, 

If Martin orders another coffee

And bemoans the loss of my hair

And patronizes which cup is best for espresso

And expects a thank-you upon telling 

me to "keep the change," four whole cents

And watches me work from his little corner booth

And asks about school

And surveys me in that excruciating way of his

 

Moreover, the way that truck driver did, 

Or that man in the WinCo parking lot, 

Or that grandfather at the gym, 

Or that pedestrian crossing the road,

 

I might just take the bait 

And give them their coveted reaction.